Balanced Offense Leads to 84-68 Win vs McNeese State

Tuesday, November 22

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

5-0,0-0Big East

McNeese State

1-5,0-0Southland

McNeese

Xavier

Balanced Offense Leads to 84-68 Win vs McNeese State

11.22.22 | Women's Basketball

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The Musketeers moved to 5-0 on the year

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Four Musketeers scored in double figures on Tuesday night as Xavier women's basketball picked up an 84-68 win over McNeese State at Cintas Center. Xavier moves to 5-0 on the year, while the Cowgirls drop to 1-5.

McNeese State hit its opening basket for its only lead of the game before Xavier went on a 16-7 run, taking its largest lead of the first quarter (16-9 at the 4:59 mark). The Musketeers never relinquished the lead and led by as many as 18 points (83-65) with 39 seconds left in regulation.

NOTABLE

• Four Musketeers scored in double figures: Taylor Smith (18), Courtney Prenger (16), Fernanda Ovalle (15) and Mackayla Scarlett (13). Xavier has had four or more players score in double figures four times this season.

• Xavier dished out 30 assists on 33 made baskets (33-for-70), the most by a BIG EAST team this season and tied for the third most in a game this season in the NCAA. The 30 assists rank tied for second in single-game school history. The last time Xavier had 30 assists in a game was on Dec. 8, 1999 vs Charlotte.

• Aanaya Harris nearly missed a triple-double, finishing the game with seven points and a career-high 11 rebounds and 10 assists. The sophomore forward is the first player with 10 or more assists in a game since Feb. 20, 2022 (Shaila Beeler had 10 at Butler).

• Xavier had 10 or more steals in a game for the third time this season. Aanaya Harris and Courtney Prenger led Xavier with three steals each.

• Courtney Prenger posted a career-high 16 points on 8-for-14 shooting. The senior forward added six rebounds.

• Taylor Smith added a season-high 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting. She dished out four assists and grabbed two rebounds.

• Mackayla Scarlett finished with 13 points, her fifth straight game with 10 or more points. She added a career-high eight assists to go along with four rebounds.

• Fernanda Ovalle posted a season-high 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting. The freshman guard added eight rebounds and three assists.

• Xavier finished the game with a .471 field-goal percentage (33-for-70) and was 7-for-11 from behind the arc. The Musketeers were also 11-for-17 from the foul line.

• Xavier forced 18 turnovers, converting the miscues into 13 points. The Musketeers also held a 16-7 advantage in fastbreak points and a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint. Xavier held a 46-32 advantage on the glass.

• The Musketeers limited McNeese State to a .397 field-goal percentage (25-for-63). Xavier has now held an opponent under 40-percent shooting three times this season.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers return to action on Friday, Nov. 25 vs No. 16 Creighton in the team's BIG EAST opener. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. from Cintas Center.

HIGHLIGHTS